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CultureV.I.O. Team Makes POV Footage Worth Watching
V.I.O. Team Makes POV Footage Worth Watching
The Internet is flooded with user-generated POV video—everything from pro athletes showing what their day looks like to shaky footage of beginner skiers snowplowing their way to YouTube glory. In a move to separate itself from other POV camera manufacturers, V.I.O. recently announced its first team of athletes and filmmakers, who use the company’s POV.HD video system to produce high-quality footage. The athlete list includes big mountain heavy hitters like skier Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and snowboarder Xavier de Le Rue. Another new team member is Matt Hobbs, a filmmaker with Vital Films in Aspen, Colorado. Vital started by making…...
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CultureGore-Tex Active Shell Launch Party
Gore-Tex Active Shell Launch Party
Putting the new Gore-Tex Active Shell to the test Wednesday night in Seattle. Photo by Swae Photography (http://www.swae.biz)On Wednesday in Seattle, W.L. Gore & Associates teamed up with the Cascade branch of the American Alpine Club to celebrate the launch of their new material, Gore-Tex Active Shell. The new products are designed for high-output aerobic activities like adventure racing, alpine climbing, and mountain biking. In keeping with the “fast and light” spirit of the night, alpine climber Colin Haley gave a 10-minute slideshow, then the crowd tested new waterproof jackets under an indoor rain tank, enjoyed the local libations,…...
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GearTested: La Sportiva Ganda
Tested: La Sportiva Ganda
The Claim: La Sportiva makes big promises with this approach shoe. From their website: “We pulled out all the stops to produce a shoe that will withstand multiple resoles, let you carry a 30-pound pack, and climb 5.12.” Oh, is that all? The Ganda are board lasted (the upper is formed around a 3D model, or last, with a supportive insole as a platform) in the back and slip lasted (a sock-like upper gets its form from the last, with rubber and insole added after), with Vibram Dot Rubber on the sole. The Trial: The Ganda were on my…...
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Gear
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CultureOutdoor Retailer: Day 4
Outdoor Retailer: Day 4
Camelbak has redesigned its iconic water bladder to make mountain biking more comfortable. The Charge LR, available this fall, will have a bladder built for lumbar support, as you can see below. Compression cords on the hip belt cinch things down as you drink to prevent sloshing, and there’s extra cushioning in the back to prevent getting poked by your stowed multitool. But that’s not all from Camelbak. The company has also developed a water filtration system using UV light rays that works in tandem with a 750 ml water bottle. The filtration housing can be submerged in water…...
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CultureOutdoor Retailer: Day 3
Outdoor Retailer: Day 3
Mountain Hardwear has developed a gear collection built around a design philosophy they call “en-lite-ment”, working with speed mountaineer Ueli Steck to maximize experience while minimizing burdens. The result was a system that weighs just 12 pounds, 8 ounces—including sleeping bag, tent, pack, and outerwear. This line inspired ultralight pieces for the mere mortals, including the Ghost Whisperer Anorak, pictured below. It’s wind and water resistant, and the men’s version weighs only 52 grams. Salewa is treading on new ground with its Pro Gaiter and Pro Guide mountaineering boots. The company is bringing ski boot technology to mountaineering boots…...
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CultureOutdoor Retailer: Day 2
Outdoor Retailer: Day 2
There is 256,000 square feet of exhibition space in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. After Day 2 at Outdoor Retailer, my feet feel like they’ve walked every inch. But the shoes on display are worth every step. Teva‘s Blue Line collection for spring 2012 couples Spider rubber, with high friction and durability, and J Step technology, which was first used in non-slip footwear for chefs. Together, these surfaces take grip to a new level—enough to stand still on a ramp coated with vegetable oil at the booth. On the other side of the floor,…...
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CultureOutdoor Retailer: Day 1
Outdoor Retailer: Day 1
Columbia trailrunners make a splash at Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City. Speed mountaineer Ueli Steck teamed up with Wenger Swiss Army to develop a knife for the alpine realm. Three hex keys mark the blade, the middle just big enough for a fingertip to ensure easy opening. The knife is fast and light, like its namesake, and is starts at $200. Ortovox teamed up with Mountainskyver to develop the Downhill Mountain Scooter, modeled below by Alli Noland of Terra Public Relations. She says it’s the closest thing to powder skiing you’ll find in winter. The scooter folds up and…...
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Culture
Mile High Mountaineering
Mile High Mountaineering
Jeff Popp and Casey Lorenzen of Mile High Mountaineering say they’re often mistaken for brand reps rather than business owners. “They don’t assume that guys our age would be so involved with a new company and be the backbone,” Lorenzen says. “Or if they know that we’re the ones behind it, they’re kind of skeptical about the product.” But MHM backpacks, with their innovative features and bright colors, are quickly correcting that image problem for Popp (founder and president) and Lorenzen (VP of marketing), both in their 20s. Popp and Lorenzen grew up in Colorado backpacking and snowboarding, and…...
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BikeSpark Up
Spark Up
Photo courtesy of Scott Markewitz. More photos of the Scott Spark Carbon below. Well, maybe this is more than a sneak peek, since I just spent four days and more than 12,000 feet of climbing on the latest Spark Carbon. (See related Sun Valley Bike Festival posts.) To begin with, pay attention to the sub-head above: With just under five inches of travel and a feathery carbon build, the 26-inch Spark is both trail bike and race machine, depending upon the day and how you spec it out. In that regard it’s reminiscent of the Yeti ASR-5 Carbon and Trek…...
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BikeYeti Sighting
Yeti Sighting
We just returned from the Yeti Cycles headquarters in Golden, Colorado where we got a sneak peek and a test ride of the new SB-66 all mountain bike, which is hitting stores in the coming weeks. The SB-66 is a brand new beast from Yeti, featuring as it does an entirely new (patent pending) suspension system dubbed Switch Technology. We’re not going to graph it out for your Intro to Physics class just yet, but here’s the gist of how it works: An eccentric pivot assembly essentially creates an extra “link” (virtual) in the suspension. At slow speeds…...
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